Printing press



June 9, 1925.

C. E. M KINSEY PRINTING PRESS Filed May 9, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1925.

C. E. M KINSEY PRINTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll rll Filed May 9, 1924 June 9, 1925s I C. E. M KINSEY PRINTING PRESS Filed May 9, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 9, 1925.

CLARENCE E. MOKINSEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PRINTING ems.

Application filed May 9, 1924. Serial No. 711,989.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that.' I, CLARENCE E. Mo- KINSEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Printing Presses, .of which" the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates toprinting resses, and particularly to reciprocating at bed cylinder or p aten machines commonly known as flat bed printing presses.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved type of interrupter to prevent the impression cylinder or platen from being lowered onto the printing form in the event of failure of the sheet feeding mechanism, i. e. in the event no sheet is fed between the printing form and the impression cylinder.

A further object is to control the degree of pressure betweenthe printing form and impression cylinder so as to protect the printing form from injury in the event two or more sheets feed through the machine at the same time, or in case a torn or wrinkled sheet-passes through the machine.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism for operating the sheet stop or obstruction device and the feed roll which cause the sheets to pass through the machine between the impression cylinder and printing form.

A still further object is to improve and simplify the means for bringing about adjustment of the relative position of the print mg form and the sheet at the instant that" the printing takes place, i. e. to adjust the position of-the printed matter on the sheet.

The above and other objects are attained by my invention which may be here briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein I have shown an embodiment of the invention which operates with high efficiency, 1 is a side view of a. o-rtion of a press of the flat bed type i ustrating particularly the interrupter and pressure; controlling means for the impression cylin-i der, omitting,,however, many details of the press not essential to an understanding of the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the press illustrating particularly the reciprocating bed and certain other parts associated therewith substantially along theline 22 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, the section being taken substantially along the line 33 of. Fig. 2, lookin in the direction indicated by the arrows; ig. 4 is a side view of part of the mechanism of the press looking toward the opposite side to that illustrated in Fig. 1, this view illustrating as does Fig. 1, a portion of the im ression roll actuating means and part of the mechanism utilized in actuating the sheet stop and upperfeed roll; Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view showin finger which through associatetf trols the mechanism for shifting t e'impression cylinder so as to prevent the lowering of the latter in the event of failure of the feed mechanism to feed a sheet through the press; Fig, 6 is an enlarged detail sectional arts conview showlng a portion of the impression" roll shifting mechanism, and partlcularly that part through which the pressure between the impression roll and printing form is controlled; Fig. 7 is a similar view of a portion of the mechanism utilized in shifting the sheet stop and feed roll; and Fig. 8 1s a detail sectional view substantially along the line 88 of Fi 1.

Referring now to the rawings, 10 represents the frame of the press along which is reciprocated in the usual manner the reciprocating bed 11 constituting what is termed in the claims the printing member and carrying the printing form which I have indicated somewhat conventionally at 12. I have not deemed it necessary to show the mechanism for shifting the bed 11 back and forth, as any suitable means common in machines of this type may be employed.

The inking of the printing form can be accomplished in any suitable way, but in the drawings I have shown at 13 a series of form inking rollers which can be actuated in the usual or any desired manner. At 141 have shown the impression cylinder or platen roller, this roller being rotatably mounted on a. shaft 15, which in turn is supported in block bearings 16 slidable vera. detector tically in vertical guideways 17 in the opi posite sides of the frame 10. It is in the mechanism for actuating this impression cylinder, i. e. for moving it downward when the sheets on which the printing is done are fed'in proper order, and for interrupting or preventing the downward movement in the event of failure of the feed in proper order, as well as for controlling the pressure between this cylinder and the printing form that important features of my invention reside. This mechanism will be explained presently.

Referring again to the general description of the machine, the sheets are fed between a stationary upper feed plate 18 and a stationary lower feed plate 19. They may be fed by hand or otherwise betweeuthese plates, and when thus fed are adapted to temporarily came against a sheet stop 20 which extends across the space between the feed plates and when lifted allows the sheet to pass. This sheet stop is secured to a rockshaft 21 which is journaledin the side members of the frame andis actuated in a manner hereinafter explained.

The sheets are fed into the press by the action of two feed rolls including a lower roll 22 which is usually asteel Tell, and an upper rotatable roll 23 which is usually a rubber friction roll,; the latter being movably supported and being'lowered into coacting feeding relation with the lower roll so as to feed the sheet coincidently with the lifting of the stop 20. The upper feed roll 23 is mounted on a shaft 21 which is supported at opposite ends in the arms 24 of a rock shaft '25 which is actuated, as hereinafter described, to raise and lower-the upper feed roll.

The impression cylinder 14 and upper feed roll 23 may be rotated in any suitable way, but preferably by a rack which moves with the reciprocating bed, the rack being shown in section at 26 in Fig. 3. I have not deemed it necessary 'to illustrate, except conventionally, the trains of gears which rotate these parts, as the particular rotating means for either the impression cylinder or feed roll per se forms no part of the present invention, but preferably the impression cylinder 14 has fixed to it a gear 14? (see Fig. 8) which meshes with a gear 14" meshing with a gear 14 in turn engaged by the rack 26, the gears 14 and 14, which are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, being supported on one of the side members of frame 10. The length of the teeth of gears 14 and 14 is such that the driving relationship between the gears is not disturbed by the vertical movement which is given to the impression cylinder.

. To drive the feed roll 23 I prefer to provide on shaft, 21 a gear 27 as shown in Fig. 3, which meshes with a gear 28 shown in the same figure, this gear being loose on rock shaft 25 and being engaged and rotated by gear 14* on the impression cylinder 14, this driving relation being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

I will now describe the mechanism for raising and lowering the impression cylinder in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the reciprocating type form. Before describing the construction and operation of this mechanism, it might be stated that assumin the sheets are fed in proper order, or at the proper rate in between the upper and lower feed plates, the impression cylinder is pulled down near the beginning of the forward stroke of the reciprocating bed so as to .press the sheet down against the printing form as the bed moves forwardly, and is lifted near the end of the forward stroke and is retained or held in elevated position 'until the early part of the next forward movement of the bed.

The mechanism for thus actuating the impression cylinder includes two links or arms 29, which at their upper ends receive the ends of the shaft 15 on which the impression cylinder is rotatably mounted, these links' extending downward a suitable distance along the opposite side members of the'stationary frame 10. At their lower ends these links are connected to lever arms 30 secured to the forward ends of. two rock shafts 31 which are supported in bearings 32 on opposite sides of the frame 10, one of these rock shafts being shown in Fig. 1, and that on the opposite side of the machine being shown in Fig. 4. The rear ends of these rock shafts are provided with lever arms 33, each connected,to a link composed of two parts 34 and 35 connected by a flexible coupling 36. It is to be understood that the mechanism so far described is duplicated on both sides of the machine. The lower link member on the side opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 1, i.- e. the lower link member 35 shown in Fig. 4 is connected by a lever arm 37 to a rock shaft 38 which is supported in hearings on the frame 10 and extends horizontally from one side of the machine to the other. The end of the rock shaft 38 shown in Fig. 1, which is the end opposite to that shown in Fig. 4, is provided with a lever arm 39 which is connected to a vertically movable slide 40 which is guided for vertical movement in a housing 41, best shown in Fig. 1. The lower part 35 of the two-part link connected by the flexible coupling on the same side of the machine as the slide 40. is connected direct to the slide, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that when the slide 40 is moved up and down, similar rocking movements are imparted to both horizontal rock shafts 31 and to opposite ends of the impression cylinder, the movement of the slide being. transmitted by the link composed of the two parts 34 and and the flexible coupling 36, direct to one rock shaft 31, and the movement being transmitted to the rock shaft on the opposite side through the horizontal transverse rock shaft 38.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a detail of one of the two flexible couplings, each connecting together the two parts 34 and 35 of the two two-part links. By referring to'this figure it will be noted that the upper part 34 of the link is screwed into a plug 36 which in turn is screwed into the top of a cylinder 36 enclosing a coil spring 36. The lower member or part 35 of the link extends freely through an adjustable plug 36 screwed into the lower end of the cylinder and through the spring 36, the upper end being provided with a shoulder in the form of an annular flange 36 The spring 36 is between this shoulder 36 and the lower plug 36. It will be seen, therefore, that when the slide is pulled downward, causing the lower paits or members 35 of the two-part links to be pulled downward, this downward mo-ve-ment is exerted on the springs 36 and movement is transmitted by the springs to the cylinders 36" and to the upper members or parts 34 of the two two-part links, causing both rock shafts 31 to he rocked in a direction such as to pull the impression cylinder downward to proper position with respect to the printing form. The parts of the flexible couplings are so adjusted that with a single sheet between the printing form and impression roller, the latter will exert the requisite pressure onto the sheet and onto the printing form, but in the event that there are two or more sheets between the impression cylinder and printing form, or a single wrinkled or crumpled sheet, the springs 36 allow the impression cylinder to yield upward so as to preventthe face of the type or plates of the printing form being injured by excessive pressure which would otherwise exist;

In practice the springs of the flexible couplings 36 need not be adjusted to accommodate sheets which Vary in thickness within given limits. When once the springs are adjusted to cause the impression roller to exert the requisite degree of pressure for sheets of a given minimum thickness, the adjustment thus given is adapted for other thicknesses up to a certain maximum thickness, the springs yielding to a greater extent for the relatively thick sheets without causing any injury to the type or plates in the type form. When, however, it is desired to run through the press sheets which exceed the maximum referred to, it is only necessary to adjust the plugs 36 at the lower ends of the cylinders, the plugs being lowered to accommodate the increased thickness so as to increase the effective length and the elasticity or give of the s rings. When once the pla at the lower en of a coupling is adjusted, it can be locked in that position against accidental displacement by' means of a lock nut 36 which is screwed onto the shank of the plug and is adapted to be tightened up against the bottom of the cylinder 36 Both the head of the plug 36 and the lock nut 36' are provided with openings to accommodate a spanner wrench or other suitable device for adjusting these parts;

The slide 40 is adapted to be moved up and down by a second slide 42, whose upper end is received in a slot in the lower end of slide 40 and is adapted to be connected to and disconnected therefrom, as will be explained. Slide 42 is provided at its lower end with a roller 43 which is engaged in a cam groove 44 on the inner side of a cam member 45 mounted on a shaft 46 which is rotated by the same motor or motive means which operates the reciprocating bed, and is driven at the proper speed or in proper re lation with the other parts of the press that at each revolution the impression cylinder is pulled downward to proper position with respect to the reciprocating type form, and then elevated. The shape and timing of the cam groove 44 are, of course, such that the impression roller is brought downward and then elevated at the proper instants in each cycle of printin operations.

In the above description it is assumed that the feed of sheets on which the rinting is to be done takes place properly. n that event, the up and down movement of the lower slide 42 is transmitted to the upper slide 4Q and from the latter, through the mechanisn' described above, to the impression roller. However, in case a sheet is not fed into the press at the beginning of the forward stroke of the bed, the upper slide 40 is unlatched from the lower slide 42 and is held stationary, thus preventing the downward movement of the impression cylinder, the lowen slide then reciprocating freely with reference to the upper slide.

The two slides are adapted to be locked together by a locking pin or bolt 47 which extends freely through one side of the housing 41 into an opening in slide 40 and is adapted to be inserted into a similar opening of slide 42 when the two openings regis ter or are in alignment. Similarly, the upper slide 40 is adapted to be locked to the housing by a locking, pin or bolt 48 which has a sliding movement in an opening of the housing and is adapted to be extended into an opening of slide 40 when the two openings are in registration. The outer ends of these two locking pins are pivotally connected respectively to the upper 'and lower ends of a lever 49, pivoted intermediate its ends on a supporting projection 50 of the housing 41, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Obviously the construction is such that the looking pins are moved simultaneously in opposite-directions so that when one s moved to locking position the other is moved to unlocking position.

The locking and unlocking means just described for the two slides 40 and 42 forms a part of my improved interrupter employing a sheet detector finger 51, shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. This detector finger is carried by a rock shaft 52 which extends between the two side members of the frame 10, and is located between the rock shaft 21 carrying the sheet stop 20 and the upper feed roll 23, as shown in Fig. 2. This detector finger is secured to a block 53 fastened to the rock shaft, and it may be adjusted on the block by a set screw 54 and suitable lock nut associated therewith. The finger is adapted to extend through openings in the upper and lower feed plates 18 and 19 shown in Fig. 2. Obviously, if a sheet is on the lower feed plate'19 the detector finger, if free to' move downward, will rest on the sheet, but if there is no sheet on the lower feed plate, it will swing downward through the opening in the plate. When this occurs, at or about the time the reciprocating bed starts on its forward stroke, by the mechanism next to be described, the two lock pins 47 and 48 are actuated so as to disengage or unlock the lower slide 42 from the upper slide 40 and to lock the latter to the housing.

This is accomplished by mechanism inclpding an escapement finger 55, which is mounted on a portion of rock shaft 52 (which carries the detector finger) projecting laterally beyond one of the side members of the frame 10. This escapement finger has a notched lower end adapted when the escapement finger is in vertical position, shown by' full lines in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 5, to engage the pointed or wedge shaped upper end of a rod 56 which extends downward alongside the frame 10 and is connected to the rearwardly extending arm of a bellcrank 57. When the rod 56 is moved upwardly it compresses a spring 58 arranged between a shoulder 59 on the rod and a bracket 60 secured to the frame 10, as shown in Fig. 1, this bracket serving as a guide for the rod, as will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 5. Extending alongside the rod 56 isa second rod 61, which at its lower end is connected to the same arm of bell-crank 57,

p and which at its upper end is connected to an escapement actuator 62, loosely mounted on the laterally projecting end of rock. shaft 52. This actuator has a shoulder 62, against which is normally pressed a pin 63, projecting laterally from the escapement finger 55, the outer end of this pin being fixed in a short arm 64, mounted on'a center 65, ar-

ranged coaxially with rock shaft 52, which center is carried by a bracket 66 secured to a side member of the frame 10, as clearly shown in Fig: 5. The escapement finger 55, pin 63 and arm 64 constitute in effect one member secured to rock shaft 52. Pin 63 is pressed against the shoulder 62 of the escapement actuator 62 by a leaf spring 67, which is best shown at the left hand side of Fig. 3, and a portion beingshown in Fig. 5, this leaf spring being supported on bracket 66, and bearing against arm 64.

It will be seen from the above, that when rods 56 and 61 move downwardly (under the action of spring 58) the shoulder 62 of actuator 62, which is connected to rod 61, will swing the escapement finger in a counter-clockwise direction as the same is viewed in Figs. 1 and 5. This will elevate the detector finger and permit a sheet to slide down between the feed plates 18 and 19.

Likewise, it will be seen that when rods 56 and 61 move upward, the shoulder 62 of actuator 62 moves back or away from pin 63, allowing it and the escapement finger to swing downward by gravity and by the action of spring 67. When the detector linger swings downward, the rock shaft 52 is turned, carrying with it the detector finger 51. \Vhen the finger 51 moves downward, if there is a sheet on the lower feed plate, the finger engages the sheet and is stopped, as is also the rock shaft and escapement finger, the latter then being to one side of its vertical position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. On the other hand, if there is no sheet on the lower feed plate, the detector finger drops through the hole in the lower feed plate, and the escapement finger continues its movement to vertical position.

\Vhen this occurs, rod 56 is moving upwardly, and at the instant that the escapement finger reaches vertical position it is engaged by the wedge-shaped upper end of rod 56 and the upward movement of this. rod and of the associated rod 61 is stopped.-

The action of the detector finger and of the above described parts cooperating therewith is utilized in controlling the locking and unlocking of the two slides 42 and 40 by the following means.

A link 68 is connected at one end to a downwardly extending arm of the bell-crank 57, to the horizontal rearwardly extending arm of which the rods 56 and 61 are connected as described above. Pivotally connected to the forward end of linl 68 is a lever 69 arranged at the side of frame 10. The lever is connected tothe link at its lower end, and a short distance above its lower end it is pivotally connected to a slide 70 mounted for horizontal movement in a housing 71 on the side of the frame 10, and provided at its forward end with a roller 72 adapted to be engaged by a cam 73 on the and a guide clip 76. A spring 77, which is connected to the lever near its upper end and to the side of the frame 10 normally restrains the upper end of the lever from movement toward the left, as the same is viewed in Fig. 1, under the action of cam 73. s

The operation of the, interrupter mechanism is as follows: When the sheets feed in regular order through the press so that the upward movement of rod 56 is not obstructed by the escapement finger 55, cam

.73 by its action on roller 72 and slide rocks lever 69 without imparting any movement to the locking pins 47 and 48, the

. lever 69 then rocking about a point 78, which is the pivotal connection between lever 69 and link 70. That is to say, when cam 73 engages the roller it moves the lower end of lever 69 to the left as the same is viewed in Fig. 1, allowing a full swing to bell crank 57, and the normal upward movement of rods 56 and 61. Then when the cam 73 leaves the roller 72 the lever 69 again swings inward to the right, pivoting, as stated above, about point 78. This movement of lever 69 imparts no movement to the locking pins and as long as the feed of sheets takes place in-regular and proper order the locking pin 47 remains in looking position, locking slide '42 to slide 40, and locking pin 48 is retracted, with the result that the impressionroller is at the proper instant in each cycle moved downward to cause the printing impression to beimparted to the sheet, and is then elevated and held in elevated posit-ion until the next printing cycle.

If, however, a sheet fails to feed into the press for any reason, this free swinging movement of lever 69 about point 7 8 is prevented by reason of the fact that the detector finger -dr0ps through the hole in the lower feed'plate, the escapement finger comes into alignment with rod 56, or to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, and the upward movement of rod 56 is stop ed. This, of course, stops the movement oFbell-crank 57 with the result that link 68 obstructs the swinging movement to the left (as viewed in Fig. 1) of the lower end of lever 69, in consequence of which, the action of cam 73 on the roller 72 is to now swing the lever 69 about point 79, or about its lower end, causing the upper end of the lever 69 to swing to the left so as to reverse the positions of the locking pins 47 and 48. That is to say, looking pin 47 is withdrawn soas to release or unlock slide 42 from slide 40, andlocking pin 48 is moved inwardly soas to lock slide 40 to housing 41. When this accurs, slide 42 has a free or inactive stroke, and slide 40 andithe mechanism connecting it to opposite ends 'of the impression cylinder are held stationary, preventing the lowering of the impression cylinder.

The cam 73 is, of course, so designed that it operates in. proper timed relationship with the other parts to cause the locking pins 47 and 48 to be actuated when the openings in which these pins are adapted to slide are in registration, and to cause the interrupter as-a whole to function as described, i. e. to cause the impression cylinder to be lowered only when the sheets are fed in proper order into the press, and to hold it-in elevated position during each cycle of the press that a sheet'is not fed therein.

I will next described the important means whiclrI-have' provided for bringing about of the printed an adjustment of the position matter on the sheet. Heretofore, in all presses of which I am aware this has been accomplished with the expenditure of considerable time and labor by adjusting thesposition of the type form on the cylinder or reciprocating bed as the case may be. In my improved machine, this adjustment is accomplished in an easy and simple manner, not by adjusting the position of the printing form, but by adjusting the time in the cycle of operations that the sheet stop or obstructing device is lifted and the upper feed roll is lowered to feeding position onthe lower feedroll. The adjustment in this manner by a novel and effective mechanism for actuating the sheet stop and feed roll, which I will now describe.

I provide on the reciprocating bed for the actuation of the sheet stop and upper feed roll, an actuating adjustment is made. This actuating memher is preferably in the form of a cam or cam rail 80 '(see Figs. 2 and 3) which is is made possible member through which the 80, and with a straight horizontal portion between the two tapered portions. -This cam rail secured to the lower side of the bed, and provision is made for adjusting it lengthwise of the bed whenever, and to the extent desired. It can be secured to the bed and adjusted in different ways, but in this instance it is held to cross ribs 11 of the bed (see particularly Fig. 2) by screws 81 extending through slots 80 in a horizontal flange 80 (see Fig. 3) projecting laterally from the vertical portion whose lower face is the:working face of the cam rail as stated above. The cam rail can be moved lengthwise of the bed without adjusting the screws 81b means of an adjustin screw 82 arranged at the rear end of the be as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This adjusting screw is connected to a In or boss 80", projecting upwardly and lateral y from the cam rail, and it has threaded engagement with therear ortion of the bed. A lock nut 83 is provided to hold the adjusting screw, and hence the cam rail, in any desired position. By this means the cam rail can be given a considerable range of adjustment, the total adjustment depending upon the length of the slots 80 accommodating the screws 81, and the length of the adjusting screw and the length of these parts can be made anything desired to provide for the maximum adjustment necessary in practice. I

The lower working face of the cam rail is engaged by a roller 84 carried at the upper end of an arm 85, which at its lower end is pivoted on a pin 86 carried-by a vertically movable slide 87, supported .within the frame 10 and guided for vertical movement by a guide pin 88, clearly shown in Fig. 3. The arm 85 is normally held up against the stop 87 of slide 87 by means of a spring 89, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this spring being. connected to the arm and to a suitable part of the frame '10.

On the rearward stroke of the bed, that is to say, when the bed and cam rail are moving to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, arm 85 swings away from the stop 87 to substantially the full line position indicated in Fig. 2 without lowering slide 87 to any material extent. Near the end of the rearward stroke the camiail rides free .of the roller due to the tapered portion shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2, whereupon the arm 85 assumes its normal vertical position against i.e. on its working stroke, the cam rail reengages the roller 84, but the engagement of the cam rail while moving in the right hand direction as viewed in Fig. 2 simply depresses the arm 85 and slide 87, the arm 85 being then maintained in vertical position against the stop 87. Obviously, the time of the downward stroke of the arm and slide depends wholly upon the position of the cam rail on the bed, the downward'movement taking place sooner in the cycle if the rail is adjusted in a forward or inward direction, and taking place later in the cycle if it is adjusted in a rearward or outward direction.

Whenthe slide is depressed as just stated, it compresses a spring 90 arranged between the slide and a shelf 10* on the frame 10.

This spring serves to again elevate the slide, its upward movement being limited by a I stop 91 carried by a shelf 10 of the frame,

this stop being in the form of an adjustable screw which can be adjusted to var the normal height of the arm and of the slide.

A portion of the slide 87 extends to one side of the frame 10 through an opening therein, and the outer projectin end of the slide is connected to a link or ro 92 which in turn is connected to a similar rod 93 through the medium of a flexible coupling 94 (see Fig. 7). This coupling includes a cylinder 94 into which both rods 92 and 93 extend. Rod 92 has at its upper end a head 94 between which and the'bottom of the cylinder is a coil spring 94 which serves as a shock absorber when movement is transmitted to the upper rod 93, this spring being compressed when the rod 92 is pulled downward. The upward movement of rod 92 in the cylinder is limited by an adjustable stop 94 Rod 93 has threaded engagement with an adjustable plug 94 which is screwed into I the upper end of cylinder 94, and whichran be adjusted to raise or lower rod 93, and can be locked in position by a lock nut 94. The purpose of this adjustment is to compensate for wear of the upper feed roll, the rod being lowered into the c linder' the desired amount to compensate or any given wear.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that rod 93 is connected by a crank arm 95 to the rock shaft 25 which was referredto in the early part of this description, and which is provided with the arms 24 carrying shaft 21 on which the upper feed roll 23 is secured.

By reference to Fig.4 it will. be seen that the opposite end of rock shaft 25 to the end shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a crank arm 96, and this is connected by a connecting rod 97 to a crank arm 98 which is secured to rock shaft 21 carrying the sheet described. An adjustable connection is pref- ..erably provided between connecting rod 97 the stop. On the reverse stroke of the bed,

and crank arm 98, and this can be made in a simple way by extending a pin 98 on the crank arm 98 through a slot 97*.in the connecting rod, and by providing in the end of the connecting rod an adjustable screw 97, against which the pin 98 bears. A spring 99is preferably connected to an extension of "stop or obstructing device 20, as previously crank arm 98 and to a side member of the frame to constantly hold the pin 98 against the adjustable screw 97 and to eliminate vibration and chatter. Similarly a spring 100 may be employed to prevent vibration in the upper feed roll when it is elevated, the spring 100 here shown, being connected to the lower armof crank arm 96 and to a stationary .pin on the side member of the frame 10.

It will be seen from the above, that the rock shaft operating the upper feed roll is connected to the rock shaft carrying the sheet stop or obstructing device so that both the feed roll and sheet stop move in unison,

fnunsea;

through the action of cm rail '80,.Ishortly after the bed starts on its forward or work-f ing stroke, and that the'time in the-cycle that the feed of-the sheet begins, and there fore the position of the printed matter on the sheet depends on the positionthat the cam rail occupies on the under side of the bed, which position can be easilf adjusted, as already ex lained, and without requiring expert skill w ich heretofore has been necessary when adjustment of the type form has been required. Y 3

When the sheet is fed-into the "press, the type form is in positionto receive it, and it is carried forwardly by the action of the type form and of the rotating. impression cy inder, this forward movement being asslsted by the action'of the feed rolls 22 and 23, until the sheet passes the latter.

As the sheet gasses through the press it is guided forwar ginal portions of the sheet. From these guide fingers the sheet passes uponto suitable conveying means such ,as' traveling tapes, not shown, and commonly employed to carry the printed sheet onto the delivery table. Guide fingers to guide the sheet in this manner are common on printing presses, but in all prior presses of which I am aware, these guide fingers are stationary, though, of course, laterally adjustable to accommodate sheets of different widths, and

generally in presses of the type herein illustrate they move with the impression cylinder.

In my improved machine these guide fingers are supported independently of the impression cylinder, and t ey are movably supported so as to bring friction rollers 102,

one carried by each guide finger, and one only being shown in Fig. 2, into engagement with the impression cylinder when a sheet is passing through the press, it being understood that the function of these rollers 102 is to complete the feed of the sheet onto the tapes or other traveling conveying means after the printing form has passed beyond the impression cylinder. In my present construction the rear ends of the guide fingers 101 rest on the forward end of the lower feed plate 19, and at their forward ends they are pivotally connected to crank arms 103 on a rockshaft 104 mounted in the side members of the frame, as best shown in Fig. 2. This rock shaft is rocked at the proper instant to cause the crank arms 103 to bring the small friction rollers 102 into engagement with the surface of the impression cylinder so as to be y and upwardly by a pair of guide fingers 101 which engage the marrotated thereby, and'preferably; this rock shaft is coupled to the mechanlsm which raises and lowers the impression cylinder.

This is accomplished in this instance by utilizing for this pur ose one of the. horizontal rock shafts 31 s own in Fig. 4. This rock shaft is provided between its ends with a collar 105 carrying a short inwardly extending arm 106 which is connected by a link or connecting rod 107 108 on rock shaft 104.

By the described mechanism, when the impression cylinder is lowered to coact with the printing form, rock shaft 104 is rocked so as to bring friction rollers 102 into contact with the impression cylinder. When the impression cylinder is lifted, the rollers 102 and impression cylinder move out of engagement with each other. Because of to a crank arm the fact that the rollers 102 and impression cylinder 14 are in engagement only during the brief period that the sheet is being fed through the press, wear incident to the engagement of these parts is reduced to a minimum.

By having the guide fingers and friction rollers 102 actuated, in the manner described, from 1 the mechanism which operates the impression cylinder, there is a peculiar and effective but important result obtained, not obtained if the guide fingers are actuated by some other moving part of the press, for the reason that the actual downward movement imparted to the impression cylinder depends upon the thickness of the sheet, or other material on which the printing is done. That. is to say, the distance that the impression cylinder moves downward is in Versely proportionate to the thickness of the sheet.v Therefore, the movement of the friction rollers 102 toward the impression c linder varies inversely as the thickness 0 the sheet increases, thus providing less pressure sible permanent bending ofthe guide fingers V when thicker material is encountered. This obviates the necessity of frequently repairing or reshaping the guide fingers as has heretofore been necessary.

In addition to this auiomatic variation of the n'iovement of the friction rollers 102 and guide fingers 101, the normal position of these parts can be varied or adjusted at any time by angularly adjusting the position of collar 105 on the rock shaft 31 which supports it. This adjustment is taken advantage of at times when the sheets or blanks fed through the press vary radically in thickness. I

In describing the construction of the press embodying my improvements, I have at the same time described the operation of the parts, and it is believed that the operation tensive use to be very effectlve and to have all the advantages described herein, and though I have shown only one embodiment, I do not wish to be confined to the precise construction illustrated, nor'to the type of press shown, but aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope. of my invention;

I-Iaving described my invention, I claim:

1. In a printing press, amovable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, a movable impression member, and means for moving one of said members toward and from the other, said means including a power-operated actuating device and a yieldable element between it and the member to be moved whereby said members may be spaced different distances apart during the printing operations to compensate for different thicknesses of sheets or material fed between said members.

2. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, a movable impression member adapted to cooperate therewith, and means for moving said impression member toward and away from the printing member,-said means including a power-operated actuating "device, and yieldable means between it and the impression member which permits the impression member to be spaced different distances from the printing mem ber during the printing operation to provide for different thicknesses or numbers of sheets or blanks fed between said members.'

3. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression member movable toward and from the printing member, and means including a power-operated member for pulling the impression member down into coacting relation with the printing member, said means permitting the space between the printing member and impression member to vary in accordance with the thickness of a sheet or blank or the number thereof passing between said members during the printing operation.

4. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression member movable toward and from the printing member, and power-operated means for pulling the impression member downint'o coacting relation wlth the printing member to compensate for. variations in thickness of the material fed between the members, said means comprising parts connected by a yieldable couplin 5. In a printing press,.amovable printing member adapted to be provided with .a printing form, an impression member movable toward and from the printing member, and power-operated means for pulling the impression member down into coacting relation with the printing member to compensate for variations in thickness of the material fed between the members, said means comprising parts connected by a compression spring.

(5. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression member movable toward and from the printing member, and means for pulling the impression member down into coacting relation with the printing member to compensate for variations in thickness of the material fed between the members, said means comprising a power operated actuating member and a yieldable device between said actuating member and the impression member.

7. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression member movable toward and from. the printing member, and means for pulling the impression member down into coacting relation with the printing member, said means comprising a power operated actuating member and means connecting said actuating member to opposite ends of the impression member and involving two yieldable devices whereby the impression member may yield to compensate for variations in thickness of material fed between the members.

8. 'In a printing press, a reciprocating bed adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, and means independent of the rotating means for moving the cylinder toward and away from the path of movement of the bed, said last mentioned means permitting the cylinder to yield so as to vary the space between it and the-printing form during the printing operations in accordance with the thickness of the material which receives the printing impression. I

9. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder means for rotating the latter, and means independent of the rotating means for moving the impression cylinder toward and from the path-of movement of the bed in proper timed relation with the reciprocating movements of the bed, said means including a power operated actuating member and means for-automatically controlling the pressure of the impression member on the printing form as the material passing between the printing form and impression cylinder varies in thickness.

' bers toward and from the other, said mechanism including parts adapted to be latched together when the feed of blanks takes place in the proper order so as to form a movement transmitting connection with the said member and to be unlatched when the feed of blanks is interrupted so as to break the connection without affecting the movement of the other member.

11. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, a movable impression member adapted tobe moved toward and from the printing member, mechanism for thus moving the impression member and including two parts adapted to be locked together and unlocked, and means comprising a detector finger operative upon the failure of the feed of blanks for controlling the lock- !ng and unlocking means.

12. In a printing press, a movable printing member, an impression member adapted to be moved toward and from the printing member, mechanism for thus moving the impression member and including a power operated deyice, means adapted to connect said device with the impress on member and including two parts, and means.

for locking said parts together to complete a movement transmitting connection from said power operated device tothe impression member and for unlocking them so as to break the movement transmitting connection, and means comprising a detector finger rendered operative by the failure of the feed of blanks for controlling said looking and unlocking means.

13. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder, mechanism for moving the same toward and from the printing member, said mechanism including a power operated member, a second member adapted to be actuated thereby, a locking device for locking said members together, a second locking device for locking said second device against movement, and means comprising a detector fin- ,ger for controlling said locking devices.

14. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder, mechanism for moving the same toward and from the printing member, said mech anism including a power operated member,

a second member ada ted to be actuated thereby, a locking device for locking said members together, a second locking device for locking said second device against movement, a power ope at d member for actu ting said locking devices, and means comprising a detector finger rendered effective bythe failure of feed of blanks or forms for controlling said power actuated member.

15. In a printing press, a printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder, mechanism for moving the same toward and from the printing member, said mechanism having means for controlling the pressure of the impression member so as to prevent injury to .the printing form when two or more blanks or a blank of increased thickness is between the printing and impression members, and means for automatically (preventing the movement of the impression member toward the printing member on the failure of feed of blanks.

16. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printin form, an impression member, mechanism for moving said impression member toward and from the printing member or its path of movement, said mechanism having means for automatically varying the distance between the members as the thickness of material between the memhers is varied during the printing operations, and means forpreventing the movement of the impression member toward the printing member on the failure of feed of sheets or blanks.

17. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression member 00-, operating therewith, a movable feeding device for feeding blanks between the printing and impression members, and means for varying the time that the feeding device operates in the c cleof operations to vary theposition of tlie printed matter on the sheets.

18. In a printing press, a printing member adapted tobe provided with a printing form, an impression member cooperating therewith, means comprising a movable feed roll for feeding blanks between the printing and impression members, means for intermittently actuating the feed roll, and means for ,varying the time of actuation of the feed roll in the printing cycle.

19. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression member cooperating therewith, means comprisin a pair of cooperating feed rolls for fee ing blanks between the printing and impression members, means for moving one of said feed rolls into coacting relation with the other to start the feed of a blank, and means for varying the time of the movement of said feed roll to vary the position of the printed matter on the blanks.

20. In a rinting press, a printing member' adapted to be provided with a p g form, an impression member adapted to co- 0 erate therewith, sheet feeding means, a s eet stop, means for actuating the sheet stop to permit the feed to take place, and means for varying the time of operation of the sheet stop in the printlng cycle.

21. In a i ber adapte toibe provided with a print ng form, an impression; member cooperating .therewith, a movable sheet feeding device,

a movable sheet stop, means for shifting the feeding device and the stop toinitiate the feed of a blank,;and means for adjust: ing the time of operation in the printing cycle of the {movement of the feeding device and stop. r s

22. In a printing machine, amovable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression mem ber cooperating therewith, a feed plate along which sheets are adapted to be fed onej'at a time into the press, a pair of actuating feed rolls, one movable toward and from the other, a sheet stop adapted to temporarily obstruct the feed of each sheet, means for actuating the movable feed roll and the sheet stop to permit the sheet to be fed into the press, and means for varying the time of operation of said roll and stop to vary the position of the printed matter on the sheet.

23. In a printin machine, a reciprocating bed adaptedto be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder adapted to cooperate with the form, a feed late along which sheets are adapted to be ed, a movable feed roll for initiating the feeding of the sheets, a sheet stop for temporarily ob structing the movement of each sheet, and means operated by the reciprocation of the bed for actuating said feed roll and stop and including an adjustable member which the time of actuation of themovable feed roll and stop occurs in the printing cycle. 7

24. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed adapted to be providedgwith a printing form, an impression cylinder, a device for feeding sheets into the press, and means comprising an adjustable pain rail carried by the bed for actuating said feeding device.

25 In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression. cylinder,

. means for feeding sheets into the press, a

rinting press, a printing mem-2 movable sheet stop for tem orarily obstructing the movement of the s eets, and means comprising an adjustable cam rail carried by the bed for actuating said stop.

26. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder, sheet feeding means including a movable member, a sheet stop, and means comprising an adjustable cam rail carried by the bed' for actuating said feeding device and stop.

27. In a printing press, a reciprocating bed adapted to be provided with a printing form, an impression cylinder, a movable feed roll, a movable sheet stop, and means operated by the reciprocation of the bed for operating the feed roll and stop and including a part adapted to be adjusted rela tive to the bed to vary the time of operation of said means in the printing cycle.

28. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, a rotaryzimpression cylinder movable :toward and from the printing member, a feed roller, and means operating in timed relation with the movement of the impression cylinder for moving the feed roller into and out of engagement with the impression cylinder.

29. In a printing press, a printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, a rotary impressioncylinder movable toward and from the printing member, a sheet guide carrying a feed roller, and means for moving said guide so as to brin the roiler into and out of engagement witn 'the impression cylinder as .the latter is moved toward and then away from the printing member.

30. In a printing press, a movable printing member adapted to be provided with a printing form, a rotary impression cylinder, mechanism for moving the impression cylinder toward and from the printing member, a guide strip carrying a feed roller, and means actuated by the said mechanism for moving the impression cylinder for actuating the guide strip so as to move the feed roller carried by it into and out of coacting relation with the impression cylinder.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature 1 CLARENCE E. McKINSEY. 

